International Programs

Reece’s Rainbow is a VOICE OF HOPE for children with Down syndrome and other special needs in around the world.

We started in 2006 with only five children in Ukraine! We are thrilled with the success and growth of this organization, and God’s ability to raise awareness for these beautiful children through us. More than 1,300 children are currently listed on our website waiting for their family to find them. Even if you are not in a position to adopt, you can make a life-saving difference for any child with your grant sponsorship gifts!

Info listed here is based on most recent program requirements and restrictions as stated by the individual country officials.

Africa 5

Heterosexual married couples and single women may apply

Parents should be at least 25 years old, and no more than 65

Parents may be no more than 40 years older than child

Bulgaria

2 trips; Trip 1 about 5 days, Trip 2 about 12 days

Approx cost only $25-30,000! (depends on how many people travel, time of year for travel, etc)

NO UPPER AGE LIMIT

Heterosexual married couples and single mothers may apply

Easy dossier, very few restrictions

Only one parent has to travel

Multiple unrelated children can be adopted together

CANADIAN FAMILIES WELCOME!

China

Families may not adopt two unrelated children

Both parents must be at least 30 years of age at the time of dossier submission.

There can be up to 50-year age difference between the child and the younger spouse.

Couples must be married at least 2 years at the time of dossier submission.

If either spouse has two divorces, the minimum length for the current marriage is 5 years.

Cohabitation can be included in the total length of relationship.

No more than two divorces per spouse.

Families can have up to 5 children under the age of 18 in the home.

The youngest child must be at least 3 years of age at the time of dossier submission.

Only single women may apply.

Single applicants must be at least 30 years of age at the time of dossier submission.

There can be up to a 50-year age difference between the child and the applicant.

There can be up to two children under the age of 18 in the home, and the youngest child must be at least 3 at the time of dossier submission.

The minimum annual income is $30,000 plus $10,000 for each child currently in the home.

The minimum net worth for singles is $100,000.

There are additional requirements for single applicants who live with a male partner.

At least one parent is required to travel to China, although travel by both parents is strongly encouraged.

The average trip length is 14 days. process takes about 12-24 months from application to placement depending on age and special needs China requires minimum annual income of $30,000 plus $10,000 for each child currently in the home, and net worth of $80,000 for couples and $100,000 for singles.

Body mass index (BMI) cannot exceed 40 for each applicant.

If one spouse is healthy, China is open to a chronic well-controlled medical condition in the other spouse. For skin, thyroid, breast or testicular cancer, the applicant must be cancer free for at least 3 years. For other types of cancer, the applicant must be cancer free for at least 5 years. China is open to one or both applicants with a well-controlled mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression, with a positive mental health letter.

For families coming back into process, the soonest they can submit an LOI for another child is 6 months after the registration date of the initial adoption. The soonest a family can submit a dossier for another adoption (whether matched or not) is 12 months after the last adoption was registered.

Colombia

Colombia is now open to heterosexual and same-sex couples. Singles may still apply as well.

Multiple unrelated children may be adopted together

No family size restrictions

Both parents must travel to the country initially — but only one needs to stay for the duration of the trip which is approx 2-3 weeks

Estimated total cost $21,000-27,000 and this does not include 3rd party fees

Eastern Europe 2

Heterosexual married couples and single women can adopt

Parents may be no more than 40 years older than child

One adoption center only allows Catholic families; non-Catholics are permitted by others

No income requirement other than USCIS

No family size restrictions, although preference may be given to families with no other children

Eastern Europe 4

Heterosexual married couples and single women can adopt, but singles can only apply for children in certain orphanages

Prefer at least one parent under the age of 50, but often lenient for children with special needs

Country prefers families with Christian background

Income requirement less rigid when adopting a child with special needs

No set family size restrictions, but the preference is for smaller families

Two trips are required; the first trip is 5 days, second trip is 21 days

Only one parent has to travel

Two unrelated children with non-correctable SN can be adopted together

Approx 15-18 months from commitment to complete adoption

Total cost estimate is $31,000-36,000 (including travel, homestudy and USCIS)

Eastern Europe 6

Heterosexual married couples and single women

Ages of adoptive parents flexible

No more than 5 children in the home

Children available between age 1-13

Adoption completed 9-10 months after referral acceptance

One trip (15-21 days)

Adoptive parents should have no history of adoption disruption or loss of parental rights

No history of mental health conditions, addiction, or infectious diseases

Adoptive parents should have no criminal history

Paperwork would need to be submitted to the country to obtain more information on a child

Total cost estimate is approx $28,000

Eastern Europe 9

Heterosexual married couples and single women

One parent needs to be over age 25

No upper age limit for parents

Adoption process takes 1-2 years

Three trips required

No history of mental health conditions, addiction, or infectious diseases

Adoptive parents should have no criminal history

Total cost estimate is approx $37,000-40,000

Ecuador

Parents must be 25 years old and no more than 45 years older than child

Preference is given to heterosexual married couples. Must be married a minimum of 3 years.

Heterosexual single women and men accepted, although wait is longer

Parents must be healthy, both physically and mentally

Totally clean criminal background

Total average travel 8 weeks; one parent can return home after 30 days

Haiti

One parent must be at least 30 years old; not over 50 years old

Heterosexual married couples and single woman may adopt

Parents must be married at least 5 years

The number of children at home does not matter. Any child over 8 years old needs to give consent to the adoption as well.

Singles may currently adopt if 35 years old

Past depression is OK, but must explain the circumstances and past and/or current treatment

If a criminal history/background, must be explained in detail

Estimated cost from commitment to home is $28-32,000

Travel is required

Travel for pick-up is about a week

Hong Kong

Full medical and social info available

EASY travel, both parents for one trip (5-7 days)

Families are encouraged to travel, but escorting is available

Parents must be at least 25 years old

Married couples and singles

Couples married at least 3 years for first marriage

Mental health/depression history considered case by case

Relatively low cost – generally estimated around $16,000 to $18,000

India

Heterosexual married couples, must be married a minimum of 2 years, ages 25-50

Single women allowed to adopt; Single men allowed to adopt boys

Adoptive parents must be at least 25 years older than child (minimum age for single women is 30)

No more than 4 children at home when adopting a child with special needs

Average time frame for adoption is approx 18-24 months

Both parents must travel

Travel typically about two weeks

No history of chronic or serious illness

No current use of medication for mental health issues (including depression or anxiety)

Criminal history will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Any felonies or crimes against children will disqualify families from eligibility.

Kazakhstan

Information coming soon; Currently open to Canadians

Korea

From the time of paperwork completion and match until travel is about 12+ months

One trip (minimum length of 3 business days) and both parents must travel

There are some restrictions, so any family that has a medical, mental, arrest or substance dependency should contact the agency

Heterosexual married couples only

Parents must be between the ages of 25 and 41 ½ at time of application

Kyrgyzstan

Heterosexual married couples and single women may adopt

Sibling groups and multiple unrelated children can be adopted together

Adoption process approx 8-12 months

Three trips – both parents need to travel for trip one

Trip one is 10-15 days

Trip two – about 6-8 weeks after trip one, for court

Trip three – about 6-8 weeks after trip two, 7-10 days long

Total estimated cost is $43,000

Latvia

Be a married couple for at least 2 ½ years (agency rule)

Heterosexual married couples and single women may adopt

Parents must be at least 18 years older than the child (no exceptions)

Minimum of 25 years of age for parents; no upper age limit at this time

Three trips are required

Both parents for approximately 4 weeks for bonding time; stay in a furnished apartment or house with your new child for bonding

One parent returns for court 2-3 months later (very short trip, 2-3 days)

Third trip is 6-8 weeks after second; One parent returns for a Sunday-Friday to complete Embassy paperwork

Children can go home with parents after first trip. They will need to return for the second trip if they are 12 years or older. All children must return for the third trip to get new passport and visa.

Total cost, including travel approx $30-35,000

Multiple unrelated children can be adopted

Parent history of anxiety or depression is usually allowed, if parent is now in good health

Lithuania

Adoptive parents must be at least 18 years older than the child

Adoptive parents should not be more than 50 years of age. Exception can be made if parent is in good health and one spouse is under age 50.

Heterosexual married couples only (married at least 2 1/2 years)

Prospective parents should have no history of mental health conditions or infectious diseases

Agency requires family to be of the Christian faith, LDS is not accepted

Lithuanian Central Authority prefers the adopted child to be the youngest in the family but it is not a requirement.

1, 2, or 3 trips required. Depends on court verdict issued by judge

First trip is about 8-10 days in country and both parents must travel. One or both parents are required to stay about 10 days after court IF the judge issues an immediate court decision.

Second trip (if required) is about 10 days in country and only one parent needs to travel

Total costs estimated around 27,000

CANADIAN FAMILIES WELCOME!

Mexico

Heterosexual married couples or single heterosexuals may adopt (males and females)

Prospective adoptive parents must be over 25 years of age and at least 17 years older than the child. If married, only one parent must meet the age requirement.

If married, minimum of two years

Two to three trips, each about one week long

No income requirements beyond USCIS requirements

No particular heath or mental health related requirements

Multiple children in the form of sibling groups can be adopted together

The agency seeks Christian adoptive parents

Total cost approx info coming soon

Peru

Single women or heterosexual married couples, age 25-55

Couples must be married 2 1/2 years

Both parents, one trip of 4 weeks

After the adoption finalization and new birth certificate, one parent can go home early (about 2.5-3 weeks); one parent remains for final visa exit interview and new passport

Approx 9-12 months from dossier submission to travel

No set restriction on family size

Parents with mild mental health history may be considered on a case by case basis

Two unrelated children in the same orphanage can be adopted together

The agency seeks Christian adoptive parents

Total cost approx $27,000 (additional child, add about $5000)

The Philippines

Heterosexual married couples and single women may adopt

Parents must be at least 27 years old; and no more than 45 years older than the child

Single parents permitted for children over age 9

Must be married at least 3 years

Family size considered based on child desired

One trip, only 7 days!

Church reference letter required

Parents should have a BMI of 35 or under

Other medical or psychological issues can preclude adoption

South Africa

Both Heterosexual and LGBT married couples, single women and single men may adopt

Parents preferred less than 48 years of age; older may be permitted

One trip, approx 8 weeks

Travel occurs 9-15 months after dossier complete

Mental health / medication conditions reviews on a case-by-case basis

No recent/significant legal history

Total cost approx $20,000

Russia

Currently closed to US adoptions

Taiwan

Full medical and social info available

EASY travel – final trip is both parents for approx a week. The judge may request an additional trip prior, for court.

No more than 3 or 5 children at home (different agencies in country have different requirements)

Heterosexual married couples only, must be married 2 years

Only one previous divorce allowed per adoptive parent

Parents should be 25-50 years of age and in good health

Fees vary greatly, $25,000-40,000 plus travel (adoption of children with special needs tends to be on the lower end of that estimate)

Ukraine

Heterosexual married couples only

Married Individual adoption available for those who qualify

No stated family size restrictions

As of late 2011, there’s no longer an upper age limit for parents

At least one parent must be a minimum of 15 years older than the child

Total with travel approx $25k

First trip, 2-4 weeks to attend court

30 day wait after court (parents can return home)

Only one parent must return to complete the adoption for approx 14 days

No diagnosed history of mental health conditions or certain infectious diseases

No criminal history

May adopt multiple unrelated children

This is a very fast program! Start to finish is an average of 7 months. Families committing to children in this program, especially the children at risk of the institution, should be in a financial position to complete the adoption quickly. It is a blessing to be able to adopt so quickly, but leaves little time for major fundraising efforts.

CANADIAN FAMILIES WELCOME!

Vietnam

Heterosexual married couples and single women may adopt

Minimum 2 years of marriage

Parents need to be at least 20 years older than adopted child, minimum age 25

Parents age 50-54 should be open to children age 5+ with moderate to severe special needs

Parents age 55+ considered on a case-by-case basis

Preference may be given to families with up to 4 children; larger families considered on a case-by-case basis

One trip for both parents, about 3 weeks in country

Parents with diagnosed history of mental health conditions or major medical issues should discuss with the agency before applying